Joe Launchbury Should Be England’s Next Captain Says Dai Young

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has backed Joe Launchbury to become England’s next captain and believes he can go on to emulate Martin Johnson and Sam Warburton.

The future of current skipper Chris Robshaw is in doubt with new head coach Eddie Jones stating last week his captain would have to be guaranteed a place in the team.

Jones was highly critical of Robshaw in a column he wrote for the Daily Mail in the build-up to England’s World Cup defeat to Australia in which he stated the Harlequins flanker did not possess the necessary skills required to play number seven at international level.

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That has led to speculation Jones will demote him and Young believes 24-year-old Launchbury – who has no previous captaincy experience – would be the ideal replacement.

“I think he would make a great England captain. I would back him 100 per cent,” Young said. “He is certainly somebody the players would get right behind.

“I see real leadership skills in Joe and you’ve got four years to build it. That’s important. You pick your captain now and build his experience as a captain, building that trust from coach to captain.

“One of the greatest captains England has ever had, Martin Johnson, didn’t speak for the sake of it. When he spoke people listened. I think Joe would be very similar.”